NMFS Biological Opinion on U.S. Navy training ... - Govsupport.us

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FINAL PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL OPINION ON U.S. NAVY ACTIVITIES IN THE HAWAII RANGE COMPLEX 2008-2013 Sonar Systems Associated with Submarines. Submarines are equipped with a variety of active and passive sonar systems that they use to detect and target enemy submarines and surface ships. However, submarines rarely use active sonars and, when they do, sonar pulses are very short. Sonar Systems Associated with Aircraft. Aircraft sonar systems that typically operate during a RIMPAC exercise include sonobuoys and dipping sonar. Current dipping sonar systems used by the Navy are either AN/SQS-22 or AN/AQS -13F. AN/AQS -13F is an older and less powerful dipping sonar system (maximum source level 216 dB re µPa-s 2 at 1m) than the AN/AQS -22 (maximum source level 217 dB re µPa-s 2 at 1m). In its modeling, the Navy assumed that all dipping sonar were AN/AQS -22. P-3 aircraft may deploy sonobuoys while helicopters may deploy sonobuoys or dipping sonars (the latter are used by carrier-based helicopters). Sonobuoys are expendable devices used by aircraft for the detection of underwater acoustic energy and for conducting vertical water column temperature measurements. Most sonobuoys are passive, but some can generate active acoustic signals, as well as listen passively. Dipping sonar is an active or passive sonar device lowered on cable by helicopters to detect or maintain contact with underwater targets. During RIMPAC, these systems active modes are only used briefly for localization of contacts and are not used in primary search capacity. Torpedoes. Torpedoes are the primary anti-submarine warfare weapon used by surface ships, aircraft, and submarines. The guidance systems of these weapons can be autonomous or electronically controlled from the launching platform through an attached wire. The autonomous guidance systems are acoustically based. They operate either passively, exploiting the emitted sound energy by the target, or actively ensonifying the target and using the received echoes for guidance. All torpedoes used for anti-submarine warfare during RIMPAC exercises would be located in the range area managed by PMRF and would be non-explosive and recovered after use. Acoustic Device Countermeasures. These countermeasures act as decoys by making sounds that simulate submarines to avert localization or torpedo attacks. Training Targets. Anti-submarine warfare training targets are used to simulate target submarines. They are equipped with one or a combination of the following devices: (1) acoustic projectors emanating sounds to simulate submarine acoustic signatures; (2) echo repeaters to simulate the characteristics of the echo of a particular sonar signal reflected from a specific type of submarine; and (3) magnetic sources to trigger magnetic detectors. Range Sources. Range pingers are active acoustic devices that allow each of the in-water platforms on the range (e.g., ships, submarines, target simulators, and exercise torpedoes) to be tracked by hydrophones in the range transducer nodes. In addition to passively tracking the pinger signal from each range participant, the range transducer nodes also are capable of transmitting acoustic signals for a limited set of functions. These functions include submarine warning signals, acoustic commands to submarine target simulators (acoustic command link), and occasional voice or data communications (received by participating ships and submarines on range). Other Training Activities During RIMPAC Exercises In addition to the anti-submarine warfare exercises, RIMPAC exercise typically include the following activities: 8

FINAL PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL OPINION ON U.S. NAVY ACTIVITIES IN THE HAWAII RANGE COMPLEX 2008-2013 Surface-to-air missile exercises which are designed to provide realistic training and evaluation of surface ships and their crews in defending against enemy aircraft and missiles. For this exercise, target drones representing enemy aircraft or missiles are flown or towed into the vicinity of the surface ship. The crew must identify the incoming object and respond with surface-to-air missiles as appropriate. Two types of missiles will be used with this exercise. One missile is equipped with an instrumentation package, while the other type is equipped with a warhead. Recoverable target drones are refurbished and reused. This exercise consists of one or more surface ships, one or more (20 to 50) target drones, and a helicopter and weapons recovery boat for target recovery. The surface-to-air missiles are launched from ships located within PMRF Warning Area. Targets are launched from an existing ground-based target launch site at PMRF Launch Complex and/or Kauai Test Facility, PMRF; from a Mobile Aerial Target Support System located in the open ocean within the PMRF Warning Areas; or released from an aircraft. This exercise requires approximately 2 to 5 hours, but could range from 8 to 60 hours. Surface-to-Air Gunnery Exercise. Surface-to-Air gunnery exercises require an aircraft or missile that will fly high or low altitude threat profiles. Commercial aircraft also tows a target drone unit that ships track, target, and engage with their surface-to-air weapon systems. The exercise involves 1 to 10 surface vessels, towed aerial targets, or jet aerial targets. Ship-deployed and air-deployed weapons systems are used, ranging from 20-mm to 5-inch caliber guns. Gunnery exercise activities are conducted within PMRF Warning Areas W-186 and W-188, Oahu Warning Areas W- 187 (Kaula), W-194, and Restricted Airspace R-3107 (Kaula). The U.S. Navy plans to conduct about 26 of these exercises each year in the Hawai'i Range Complex, which is an increase from the 17 exercises conducted under current schedules. Air-to-air missile exercises which are designed to provide aircrews with experience in using aircraft missile firing systems, and to develop new firing tactics. For this exercise jet target drones are launched from PMRF Launch Complex, Kauai Test Facility, or an aircraft controlled by PMRF. The targets are engaged by aircraft equipped with air-to-air missiles. The targets are tracked by the aircraft and then the air-to-air missiles are launched at the targets. Recoverable target drones and all recoverable elements are refurbished and reused. Exercise events typically include 1 to 6 jet target drones, 2 to 20 aircraft, 2 to 20 missiles and a weapons recovery boat for target recovery. These exercises are conducted within PMRF Warning Area. Targets are launched from an existing ground-based target launch site at PMRF Launch Complex and/or Kauai Test Facility, PMRF; from a Mobile Aerial Target Support System located in the open ocean within the PMRF Warning Areas; or released from an aircraft. Each exercise typically lasts 2 to 6 hours, but could range from 2 to 30 hours. Air-to-surface missile exercises which are designed to provide training for U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and multinational air groups in air-to-surface missile firing; conventional ordnance delivery including bombing (MK80 series bombs, live and inert), gunnery, and rocket and precision guided munitions firing; and close air support techniques. 9

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